The Canadian Alliance for Regulated Gaming (CARG) officially launched on 5 October, representing a not-for-profit industry association meant to “reflect the rapid transformation” of the country’s gaming landscape.
"The Alliance was created in recognition of the increasingly complex and national nature of many industry-related issues and the importance of ensuring there is a strong, unified voice representing legal and regulated gaming organizations," CARG Executive Director Molly Cormier said.
"Canada's gambling landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace, while illegal and unregulated operators create growing risks for consumers and communities. Canadians must be at the centre of how we respond. By bringing together governments, regulators and industry leaders, we can help ensure the public interest continues to drive the future of gambling policy in Canada."
Formerly known as the Canadian Lottery Coalition, the new Alliance was organised by publicly owned lottery and gaming organisations which return profits to their respective provinces to help fund public services.
According to the release, CARG “provides a unified national forum for collaboration, research, public education and policy engagement on the issues shaping Canada's gambling sector.”
CARG intends to collaborate with governments, regulators, industry stakeholders and communities to “advance public-interest policies” which help promote player health, consumer protection and legal enforcement.
The Alliance stated: “Illegal online gambling operators, increased advertising, emerging products such as prediction markets and evolving technologies are creating new challenges for policymakers and growing risks for consumers, requiring coordinated action across jurisdictions.
“As membership expands, CARG will welcome additional voices from across the legal and regulated gaming ecosystem, fostering collaboration and informed dialogue while remaining grounded in the public interest.”
On 7 October, the Supreme Court of Canada will consider an appeal on the legality of iGaming and sports betting for wagers involving individuals located outside of the country, originally brought forth by The Atlantic Lottery Corporation, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation and Loto-Québec.
The appeal questions whether iGaming and online sports betting in Ontario would remain lawful under the country’s criminal code if residents were placing wagers on events involving individuals located outside of Canada.
BetMGM formed a new multi-year agreement with the Minnesota Vikings NFL franchise on 10 September, becoming the team’s official sports betting and online casino partner in Canada
